{"id":26922,"date":"2025-06-20T15:02:58","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T12:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/?p=26922"},"modified":"2025-06-20T15:02:58","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T12:02:58","slug":"who-will-replace-khamenei-irans-regime-faces-a-crisis-of-succession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/who-will-replace-khamenei-irans-regime-faces-a-crisis-of-succession\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Will Replace Khamenei? Iran\u2019s Regime Faces a Crisis of Succession"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Israel-Iran war has reignited a fateful question: what happens in Iran if Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, is harmed or removed from power? Amid Israel\u2019s unprecedented assault on the regime\u2019s military and ideological symbols, Western analysts believe Israel is signaling an intent to bring down Tehran\u2019s leadership\u2014forcing Khamenei\u2019s shaky succession plan into the global spotlight.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The Mausoleum in Tehran | Photo: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Israel targets not just facilities\u2014but regime symbols
\n<\/strong>Since the launch of Operation “Rising Lion” (Im KeLavi<\/em>), the IDF has struck not only nuclear and ballistic infrastructure but also government institutions such as the Iranian state broadcaster and Revolutionary Guard facilities. The goal, according to global commentators, is not merely tactical but strategic: to destabilize the regime from within.<\/p>\n

Global media and Iranian opposition sources suggest that Khamenei, 86, is in hiding due to fears of assassination. Former U.S. President Donald Trump explicitly stated, “We know where he\u2019s hiding,” while Israeli sources hint that Khamenei\u2019s leadership days may be numbered.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The West seeks regime change | Photo: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Will the Revolutionary Guards seize power?
\n<\/strong>One key scenario Israel is closely monitoring is the Revolutionary Guards taking full control of Iran\u2019s government. Analysts warn that the removal of Khamenei could create a power vacuum leading to the rise of a military dictatorship, replacing the current religious theocracy.<\/p>\n

Unnamed intelligence officials report that several senior Iranian generals are already maneuvering for key positions, waiting for the right moment to act.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Revolutionary Guards | Photo: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reza Pahlavi: The Shah\u2019s son seeks legitimacy
\n<\/strong>Among the exiled Iranian opposition, Reza Pahlavi\u2014the son of the deposed Shah\u2014has emerged as a prominent figure. Living in the United States, he advocates renewed ties with Israel. While he enjoys international recognition, his domestic support in Iran is limited due to his Western and Israeli connections.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Reza and Yasmine Pahlavi at the Jewish Values Awards in Times Square | Photo: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The family of Iran\u2019s last Shah | Photo: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The MEK movement: Struggling to gain credibility
\n<\/strong>The MEK (Mujaheedin-e Khalq), once allied with Saddam Hussein, seeks to position itself as a ruling alternative in Iran. However, most Iranians view the group as untrustworthy, and it is often regarded in the West as a fringe cult, lacking significant support.<\/p>\n

Ethnic fragmentation and fears of collapse
\n<\/strong>Iran\u2019s ethnic composition is highly complex, including Kurds, Balochs, Arabs, and other subgroups. Any power shift risks igniting internal conflicts, evoking the Iraqi scenario where regime collapse led to total state fragmentation. The Soufan Center in the U.S. recently warned that a collapse in Tehran could result in “greater chaos than the Iraq invasion.”<\/p>\n

\"\"
Demonstration in Tehran, illustration | Photo: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Israel estimates that regime change in Tehran\u2014whether triggered by military action or emerging from the broader conflict\u2014could mark a historic achievement. Still, Jerusalem is acutely aware of the risks: the final outcome must rest with the Iranian people. Without a moderate replacement, a more extreme military dictatorship could arise. Israel, therefore, proceeds with calculated resolve.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As Israel strikes deep into Tehran\u2019s power centers, the Islamic Republic teeters\u2014raising fears of a leadership vacuum and regional chaos, but also hope among the regime’s dissenters. With top officials in hiding, contenders for power begin to emerge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":26923,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,65],"tags":[6794,1539,5477,6755,2760],"class_list":["post-26922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","category-world","tag-internal-politics","tag-iran","tag-regime-change","tag-rising-lion","tag-tehran"],"yoast_head":"\nWho Will Replace Khamenei? 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